Liquid expresser



April 2, 1935. L. F. DUCKER 1,996,505

LIQUID EXPRESSER Original Filed Sept. 25, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 2, 1935. DUCKER 1,996,505

' 'LIQUID EXPRESSER Original Filed Sept. 25, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 2;, 1935. -L. F. DUCKER LIQUID EXPRESSER 5 Sheets-Sheet; :5

Original Filed Sept. 25, 1930 Patented Apr. 2, 1935 unwrap STATES LIQUID EXPRESSER Louis F. Dncker, Orlando,

Fla, assignor to Richan! A. Kaps and Charles H. C. Van Pelt, both of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Louis F.

trustees Application Dncker, as

September 25. 1930. Serial P10484318 Renewed August 13, 1934 6 Claims.

My present invention is an elaboration of the invention shown, described and claimed in my application for letters patent for improvement in liquid expressers, Serial No. 476,892, filed in the United States Patent Omce August 21, 1930.

Liquid expressers of this character are employable in expressing liquid from laundry and from material which has been dry cleaned. It is also applicable for expressing liquid from cloths, rags and similar articles used in the household and for other purposes.

The liquid expresser comprises a material chamber for receiving the material from which the liquid is to be expressed, and a pressure chamber for receiving the fluid pressure agency by which the liquid is expressed, there being a flexible wall between said chambers, which well maybe in the form of a bag, and is hereinafter referred to as a bag.

It is the object of the present invention. to .provide novel means whereby to secure-the flexible bag in place; further, to provide novel means whereby to form a fluid tight joint between the flexible bag and the member to which it is attached; and, further, to provide novel means whereby to securethe flexible bag between the body and cover of the tank.

It is the object of my invention further to provide novel clamping means for clamping the movable member or cover of the device in place.

It is the object of my invention further to provide novel means whereby to introduce liquid into the material chamber; further, to provide novel means for introducing liquid into one end of the material chamber by means of a flexible conduit extending lengthwise of the material chamber and to provide for outflow of the liquid at the other end of the material chamber; and, further, to provide a flexible bag arranged for receiving the material, in which bag the material is squeezed for expressing'the liquid therefrom, the liquid passing out at one end of the bag, and a flexible conduit communicating with l the other end of the bag and arranged to shift in conformity with the shifting of the wall of the bag while maintaining its fluid connections.

It is the object of my invention, further, to provide novel means whereby to rinse the material; and, further, to provide novel means for supplying a qualifying agent, such as bluing, to the material.

. The invention will be further readily under-. stood from, the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter:

rig. l is a side elevation of an exemplifying device, embodying my invention, shown in association with a washing machine and a stationary tub, partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section oi my improved device, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the tank closed, and the material and the bag in pressed relation, and partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same, partly broken away.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the upper portion of my improved device.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional detail view, on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional detail view, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5. v

Fig. 9 is a cross-section of my improved device, taken on the line 4-5 of Fig. 2, showing the de- 20 vice in open relation.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation showing an enlarged detail view of the clamping means for the flexible bag in release relation, partly broken away.

Fig..1l is a plan view of the same. v

Fig. 12 is a cross-section of the same, taken on the line l2i2 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross-section, showing a modification of my improved device, taken in the plane of the line lS-ifi of Fig. 14. I

Fig. 14 is a cross-section of the same, taken in the plane of the line M-Jt ofFig. 13; and,

Fig. 15 is a vertical section showing a container for a qualifying agent, such as bluing, in association with my improved device, and taken in the 5 plane of the line It-it of Fig. 5.

In the present exemplification of my inventicn there is a tank 2! in which there is a bag 22, the bag receiving the clothes or other material from which the liquid is to be expressed, a body 40 or batch oi such material being shown at -23 in the bag. (Figs. 4 and 9).

The bag is provided with a bead 25 about its mouth 26. The bag exemplified is of greater length than diameter. The tank is provided with an annular groove 21 in which the bead 25 of the bag is received. (Figs. 3, 9, and 13). This groove is provided with a lower wall it, an upper wall 29 and an outer wali-tii. (Fig. 3).

Means are provided for squeezing said bead into itsgroove for forming .a fluid tight joint. These means are exemplified as a ring it, shown as a spiit ring, provided with clamping means (it. (Figs. 9, l0, l1 and 12}. The ring is shown as an annular ring having a. slight cross-sectional as taken 15 holding the parts in line with each other. screw 46 has a head 41, a washer 48 being re- 2 incline toward the bottom and middle portion of the tanks It has an outer support 35, shown as an outwardly extending flange arranged to rest on the lower wall 38 of an outward bulge 31 of the tank, forming an annularflange about the mouth "of the tank. (Figs. 3 and 9) The clamping means for the ring is exemplified as a wedge-piece 4!, received between oppositely inclined end walls 42, 43, at the split 44 in the ring. (Figs. 10, 11, 12). There is a dove-tail connection 45 between each end of the wedgepiece and the respective ends of the split ring for A head 25, for crowding the bead into its groove,

and causing intimate contact between the major portion of the cross-sectional circumference of the bead and the wallet the groove, theupper portion, the lower portion and the outer portion of said wall of the groove together with the ring substantially encompassing the bead. (Fig. 3).

The bead is squeezed cross-sectionally into said groove by reason of the lateral pressure thereon for forming intimate contact between it and the wall of the groove throughout the major portion of the bead, preventing leakage past said bead wher pressure is applied on the outside of the bag. The bead is shown rounded in cross-section and as having the depending portion of the bag depending from the inner portion of the bead. The outer face of the split ring is normally spaced -from the tank by an annular space for permitting its expansion.

The tank comprises a pressure chamber 55 and a material chamber 55 between which the flexible wall exemplified as the bag 22 is located. (Figs.

The flexible bag is preferably rendered impervious to the pressure medium and to the liquid in the material operated on. The flexible bag It is desirable that the bag be flexible so as to readily yield in all its portions in any direction to the fluid pressure thereon.

The tank is provided with a wall 51, extending upwardly from the bulge 3i. There is an inwardly and downwardly extending deflector 58 at the upper end of the wall I! about the mouth of the tank. (Figs. 4 and 9) The tank comprises a body portion 6| and a cover 62. The cover is preferably'supported so that it may be readily centered with relation to the mouth. Thus a yoke- 63 is connected by a hinge 64 with the tank. is shown comprising side bars 65 which may be formed of sheet metal and rigidly secured to- (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 9). It.

gether as by rivets 66. The side bars have flanges 61 at one end, forming hinge members through'which the hinge pintle 68 is received,-

and pivoted to the yoke by a pivot. pin .18, so as to suspend the cover pendulumwise from the yoke. The cover is provided with an annular seat "received in the ring 33. This seat prcferably tapers inwardly and downwardly so that its inner end may be readily. received in the ring 33 for coaction between the annular seat 1! and the inner annular face 18 of the ring. (Figs. 4 and 9).

A firm seating between said faces is not essential. The friction between the ringand the flexible wall or bag 22 preferably exceeds the frictional resistance between the cover and said ring, so that the cover may be manipulated in the ring and out of the ring without disturbance of the ring.

The swinging end of the yoke is provided with a handle 19 fixed between flaring flanges of the yoke.

The tank is provided with a hack 8!.

of the loop having pivot connections 83 respec- A loop 82 is received about the hook, the respective sides.

tively with the two arms of a lever 84, pivoted on a pivot pin to the yoke, and having a handle 86'. (Figs. 5, 6, and 8) The relations of the pivots 83, 85, to each other and to the hook are such,

that when the lever 84 is swung into release position, the engaging portion of the loop engaging with the hook is distanced a greater distance from the pivot 85 than when the clamping lever I4 is moved into clamping position. During the clamping movement the pivot 83 is moved about the pivotal axis 85 for shortening the distance in a right line between the pivot 85 and the hook, and thereby clamping the yoke and the cover supported thereby toward the tank. When the cover is in clamped position, as exemplifled in Fig 6, a right line between the pivot 83 and the hook is at that side of the pivot 85 toward the handle 86, whereby the yoke and the cover are locked to the body of the tank, the handle 86 resting on the yoke when the clamp is in locked position.

Fluid under pressure is admitted into the'pressure chamber. This fluid may be water from a usual house faucet 9|.

means of a bracket 92 extending from the frame 93 of a usual washing machine 94. The bracket has a'seat 95, shown as a ring, in'which the body 01' the tank is received and supported, lugs 98 on the tank resting on the bracket. (Figs. 1 and. 6).

The tank is rdtatively supported on the bracket so that its spout 91 may be directed into various .60 The tank may be suitably supported, as by I04 of a coupling, the other member I06 of which 'is secured to the faucet 9|.

The coupling is preferably a slip coupling, the members of which are readily connected and disconnected.

One of the members of the slip coupling (see the member I04, in Fig. 2) may for instance be provided with bayonet slots I09, the other member thereof (see the member I06 in Fig. 1) being provided with pins IIO received in the slots, for clamping a resilient washer I II as in Fig. I, between the shoulders I I2 and I I3 shown on similar members I28, I29 in Fig.1. (Figs. 1, 2 and 7).

When the hose I03 is coupled to the faucet and the faucet is opened, water under pressure of thewater service is admitted into the pressure chamber 55, for squeezing the flexible bag and v the material therein. The water in the pressure chamber may be released by uncoupling said coupling and draining the pressure chamber through the hose into the stationary tub or a suitable receptacle or drain.

The cover 82 is provided with holes I I1 through which the liquid in the material is expressed when squeezing the material. The cover is preferably providedwith a shoulder I I8 located above and preferably contacting the ring 33 for resisting dislodgment of the ring by pressure in the pressure chamber. (Figs. 3, 4 and 9).

A shield I2I is located above the cover so as to deflect-the liquid proceeding from the holes. The boss 14 is provided with a shoulder I22. The shield is provided with a hole through which the upper end of the boss extends, the margin of the hole being secured to the shoulder. The shield and the top of the cover preferably slant toward the outer circumference thereof toward a gutter I2 3 formed by the bulge 31, the upwardly extending wall 51, the ring 33, and the outer edge ofthe cover. The upwardly extending wall 51 has an opening' I23 therein between the gutter and the spout.

The gutter directs the expressed liquid toward the spout 91,- whence it is discharged. The deflecting flange 58 prevents projection of the expressed liquid beyond the device and deflects the liquid downwardly toward the gutter.

A liquid feeding means for feeding liquid into the bag is provided, as byproviding the cover with a port I25 provided with a nipple I28. Liquid is supplied into the bag by means of a hose I21 arranged to be attached to the faucet 8| so asto cause flow'of the water from the faucet into the bag. The connection between the hose and the cover may be made by suitable slip coupling similar to the slip coupling I04, I05, having coupling members I28, I20, respectively on the nipple I28 and the hose I21, and the connection between the hose and the faucet may be made by providing the end of the hose with a slip coupling member I coacting with the slip coupling member I06 on the faucet.

In order to cause permeation of the material in the bag by the liquid introduced thereinto, I prefer to lead the incoming liquid into the bottom portion of the bag and to cause flow of the liquid toward and through the top of the bag, employed in rinsing the material or when supplying the same with a qualifying agent, such as bluing.

A flexible conduit I83 is suitably attached to the inner end of the port I25 and extends downwardly into the bag and has its discharge end I34 preferably in the bottom of the bag.

This conduit may be a soft rubber hose and be very pliable and collapsible, and in practice pref erably lies next to the wall of the flexible bag and is readily pressed with the flexible bag into various shapes so as to follow the contours of the material bearing against the same and of the bag while expressing liquid from the material.

The port I25 is preferably adjacent to the hinge portion of the cover and, the inner .con-

duit I33 is preferably provided with a movable section I35 which may move with the cover and be extended without danger to its connection with its port and without disturbance of the position of the main portion of the conduit in the bag.

The nipple I26 is provided with an inner enlargement I31 placed in the upper end of the hose, the upper end of the hose and the enlargement being received in a seat I38 in the inner face of the cover, the upper end of the hose being clamped between the enlargement and the. seat for forming a fluid tight joint. A shoulder I38 between the nipple and the cover limits this The coupling member I20 is the opening of the faucet, so as to admit fluid under pressure into the chamber 55, thereby pressing upon the bag, preferably at its sides and at its end, for squeezing the bag and the material therein and causing the liquid therein to be expressed, as through the holes Hi, the expressed liquid flowing over the spout 9i.

If it is desired to rinse the material, the port IOI is disconnected from the faucet and the fluid in the pressure chamber allowed to be discharged, whereby the bag and the material therein .drop in the pressure chamber. (The port I25 is then connected with the faucet and the rinsing liquid admitted through the port I25 and the hose I38 into the bottom of the bag, whence it flows upwardly through the material, permeating the various portions of the material, aiding 'in loosening the material, and flowing through the pores of allthe material, being discharged through the holes in the cover and across the spout, carrying with it any residue of soap or other detergent'and other loose ifying agent may be provided in the liquid supply for the bag. (Fig. 15).

The container comprises a casing I80 having an inlet port I68 and an outlet port I50, a valve I5I normally closing the outlet port." (F13 15). One of the ports is provided with a coupling member I52 complemental to the coupiing'member I28, the other port being provided with a coupling member I58 complemental to thecoupling memberv I29 on the hose I21, forming slipcouplings for readily affixing and removing the container.-

The container may be located at any suita- .ble point between the faucet and the cover.

of the pipe I55 and the outlet port. The pipe I55 is provided with holes I51. When the valve I 5| is opened and fiow of water proceeds through the hose I21 from the faucet, the water flows through the pipe I55 across the space I56, drawing the qualifying agent, suchas bluing, with it out of the container for modifying the water and mixing it with the material in the bag. A portion of the water flows through the holes I51 into the container for aiding in mixing the qualifying agent with the water.

The qualifying agent is mixed with the water as the water is injected into the material, as by syphoning or injecting the bluing into the water fiowing'into the material. When using bluing, the bluing is premixed so as to have all particles of the bluing dissolved. The bluing solution in the container is stronger than the solution when introduced into the material, the water mixing with the bluing solution in the container for weakening the bluing which is introduced into the bag.

The flow of the bluing solution is continued through the bag, the bluing solution mixing with the rinsing water last in the bag, the inflow of the bluing solution gradually displacing the rinsing water in the bag. The inflow of the bluing solution is continued until the outflow of theliquid from the spout shows flow of bluing water of proper color from the bag, whereupon the faucet as well as the valve I5I are closed, the material is permitted to remain in the bluing water until it is thoroughly soaked, whereupon the bluing water is expressed by pressure in the pressure chamber 55.

If desired, the container I41 may be removed and the hose I21 connected with the nipple I26, sq as to cause rinsing water to pass through the material after the bluing.

The container for the modifying agent is readily attached to and released from its connections in the conduit between the faucet-and the cover. I

In a modification shown in Fig. 13 the conduit I33 is for its major portion fast with the bag. In this modification one wall of the conduit is formed by the wall of the bag, the other wall of the conduit being formed by a flexible strip IGI, the edges of which are fastened to said wall, leaving the passage of the conduit between said flexible strip and said wall. The lower end of the passage has the outlet I34 in the bottom of the bag.

The upper end of the conduit may be extended as a hose section I82, similar to the hose-section I", one end of which has connection with said strip and said wall, and the other end of which is secured to the coverin manner similar to the securing of the hose-section I35 to the cover.

In employing my invention, the ring 3 is expanded by means of its expanding means 34 for clamping the mouth end of the bag in place, and

forcing the annular bead at the mouth end of the bag into itsgroove for forming a fluid tight seal between the bag and the tank. This connection may be maintained throughout the life of the bag,

into open relation, as its connection with the ring 33 is preferably a loose connection for permitting ready insertion and removal of the cover in the ring. v

The material is introduced into the bag, as from the tub of the washing machine, or'the stationary tub, or a suitable container, across the spout 91, the spout draining excess liquid flowing thereon back into the receptacle from which the material is received.

When the bag has been filled, the cover is closed by grasping the handle end of the yoke and swinging the yoke for positioning the cover above the mouth of the tank. Ready centering of the cover with relation to the mouth is obtained by a slight yielding in the hinge of the yoke.

The lower'contracted end of the cover is readily received in the upwardly tapered widening mouth of the tank. When the cover has been properly centered, the yoke is depressed by pressing upon the handle 19 thereon for urging the cover into its seat. The loop 82 is placed about the hook 8i and the lever 84 is swung on its pivot 85, thereby raising the pivot connection 83 of the loop with said lever, for clamping the yoke toward the tank and moving the cover toward the ring and placing the flange. II8 of the cover into. obstructingrelation with said ring, so as to prevent outward movement of the ring and release of its clamping relation upon the mouth of the bag during the expressing of the liquid from the material in the bag.

The connections between the faucet 9| andthe port IIII in the tank having been made by attachments of the respective ends of the hose I03, and the faucet having been opened, the water from the hydrant under pressure is received in the pressure chamber 55 about the bag and portions of the bag to conform to the shape of the outer surface of the batch of material when in squeezed condition, The bag is contracted during the squeezing operation, thus avoiding expanding strains upon the bag, and permitting the bag to readily crumple or bunch about the material, and avoiding stretched relation or danger of puncturing the bag.

The conduit I33 is collapsed by this pressure and adapts itself to the squeezed form of the bag, forming little or no resistanceto the squeezing pressure in the pressure chamber.

The liquid squeezed from the material passes through'the holes in the cover, into the gutter I24, and thence over the spout 91.

When the liquid has been properly expressed out ofthe material, the faucet is closed, and the pressure chamber is allowed todrain, the hose proper depth of being released Irom the faucet and the end of the hose being placed over a suitable receptacle or drain for receiving the water flowing from the pressure chamber.

Ii rinsing of the material is desired, the hose I21 is attached to the faucet and to the port 125, and the faucet opened, whereby the rinsing water passes into the hose I33 and along the wall of the bag, being discharged into the bottom of the bag, it being understood that the bag and the material therein will meanwhile have dropped after expressing the liquid therefrom.

The rinsing water takes an upward course through the material, loosening the material, and causing separation of the layers of the material, causing the rinsing water to rise in the bag and to flow through all portions of the material and the pores therein, carrying with it the particles of soap suds, soap, soil and foreign ingredients there may be in the clothes through the holes in the cover and across the spout.

Soap and similar ingredients which have been retained by the material naturally float on top of the water, and in my improved device this water, together with the ingredients of soap and similar substances are forced away from the material through the top, so as to clear the same from the clothes. Passage of this rinsing water is upward in the direction of natural flow of the soap suds, soap particles and other similar ingredients, for discharging such ingredients in the direction of their natural flow from the material and floating the scum iormed by such ingredients away from the material.

This is materially distinguished from hand rinsing, in which the material is raised out of 'the rinsing bath and lowered into the rinsing bath, the top of the rinsing bath retaining the film or scum rinsed out of the material, so that at each raising or lowering of the material this film or scum is again mingled with the material. In my improved device this is avoided and rinsing is quickly eflected.

If it is desired to blue the material, the bluing container M1, in which a suitably strong blulngsolution has been placed, is connected in the conduit between the iaucet and the cover. Upon opening of the faucet SI and of the valve "i, water is forced through the container, taking up bluing in its passage for weakening the solution of bluing and f the weakened solution into the bottom of the bag, the weakened bluing solution mingling with any water that may be in the bag, or been pressed, the weakened bluing solution is received in the material.

The material is loosened flow of the weakened solution of bluing, causing the bluing solution to impinge all surfaces of the material and flow through the pores thereof for applying a uniform bluing solution to all portions of the batch of material in the bag.

When the operator perceives bluing water of color passing over the spout, the supply of bluing solution is stopped by closing the valve IBI and the faucet SI. and the material permitted to remain in the solution a suitable length of time, the liquid in the material being then expressed by connection of the faucet @i with the port IBI as hereinbeiore explained.

My improved device is simple and economical in construction and operation, is quick in its functions, prevents breaking or tons and other attached objects, and prevents injury to the material and the'flexible bag.

if the material shall have and spread by the tearing away of but- States Patent Ofllce March 16, 1931, as Serial No. I

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a receptacle, a flexible imperforate member therein dividing said receptacle into a pressure chamber and a material chamber, said flexible member having a margin, said receptacle having a securing zone for said margin, said zone and said margin forming complemental walls, one 'of said walls being provided with a bead and the other of said walls having a groove in which said bead is received, a split ring in the plane of said bead and said groove, and endwise pressing means-acting on said split ring to change the diameteroi said split ring for exerting lateral pressure between said bead and the wall of said groove.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tank comprising a cover, a flexible imperforate bag in said tank, said tank having a pressure chamber at one side of said flexible bag and a material chamber at'the other side of said flexible bag, the cover having an outlet for'the fluid expressed from said material chamber, said tank having a groove provided with upper, lower and outer walls, said flexible bag having a resilient bead in said groove crosssectionally shaped to contact all said walls, a split ring inside said bag, and endwise expanding means between the ends of said split ring for spreading said ends and increasing the diameter of said split ring for laterally pressing said resilient bead against all said walls of said groove.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tank comprising a cover, a flexible imperiorate bag in said tank, said tank having apressure chamber at one side of said bag and a material chamber at the other side or said bag, the cover having an outlet for the fluid expressed irom said material chamber, said tank having a groove, said bag having a bead fitting in said groove, a split ring inside said bead, and means between the ends of said split ring for expending said ring, and forcing said head into said groove, and said cover being provided with a shoulder coacting with.said ring to maintain said ring in said bead.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a receptacle, a flexible imperiorate bag therein forming a pressure chamber at one 'side of said bag and a material chamber at theoth'er side of said bag, liquid discharge means at one end or said bag, an inlet for said re- I liquid discharge means presing a pressure chamber at one side of said bag and a material chamber at the other side of said bag and having a mouth adjacent to said cover, adjacent to said mouth, said bag having a supply port on said cover, and a flexible conduit in said bag having connection with said supply port and including a section movable with said cover.

6. In a device of the character described, a

liquid supply means for uid pressure container having a fluid pressure inlet, a fluid tight universally collapsible bag freely and bodily suspended within said container in a sealed relation thereto adapting the bag and its contents to be compressed by a fluid pressure admitted into the container about the bag, a cover confining the contents within the bag and provided with a suflicient area of portage for venting the water expressed from the contents when the pressure is administered, and a tube engaged through and carried by said cover and extending into the bag and to the bottom thereof for admitting a fluid into the bag to pass upwardly through the contents thereof.

LOUIS F. DUCKER. 

